Party to kick off Antique Show & Sale

The Delray Beach Historical Society Antique Show & Sale is launching a new event this year with the Trends, Taste & Traditions Party on Friday.

Designed to attract people from a wide range of ages and tastes, the party will feature antiques and contemporary items.

Megan Mulry Huisinga, co-chairwoman of the 15th annual show, said the board also decided to move the Preview Party to Thursday night from its traditional Friday night spot to create an event for a younger crowd.

"Karen Van Wormer, the former executive director of the Historical Society, saw that it was starting to skew to a much older audience," said Huisinga, of Gulf Stream. "To try to draw in people age 35 to 45, we priced it at a point a little lower to make it more accessible and fun."

Tickets cost $75 and reservations are requested but not required, Huisinga said.

The Antique Show & Sale runs from Friday to Sunday at the Delray Beach Community Center, 50 NW First Ave.

The Trends, Taste & Traditions Party, which takes place from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the center, is being organized by Van Wormer, Karen Vanneck and Karen Carr, all of Delray Beach. Party guests may bring up to three items for a free verbal appraisal. Huisinga said she expects 150 to 200 people to attend.

The Preview Party is 6:30-9 p.m. Thursday and tickets cost $150.

The Delray Beach Historical Society's fundraising goal for the weekend is $200,000. Proceeds from events will support the Hunt House project, a burgeoning historical preservation campus being built around the recently relocated Cason Cottage at 3 NE First St.

"We're building a hurricane repository for all of our archives; there will be a learning center geared toward early childhood education and public conference rooms," Huisinga said. "We're hoping to launch an endowment fund to keep it staffed in perpetuity."

Huisinga, who began visiting Delray Beach in the 1960s and moved to Palm Beach County 10 years ago, said it's important to treasure the city's history. "It's so important to retain the heritage we have - the history in Florida is precious," Huisinga said. "We have to protect it and help people remember how lucky we are and what a great place it is."

Deborah Sargeant, of Gulf Stream, is the co-chairwoman.

Show hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 24. Admission is $15.